Wellbeing

The central aim of the Pastoral Team is to create a safe, healthy, and happy learning environment. We strengthen the health, wellbeing, academics, and situations of life of the students at the school, and prevent marginalisation. Pastoral support work is carried out both on an individual and a group level, and in cooperation with our parents and families.

All students become part of a caring classroom community where every child is a valued member. Each day incorporates time with an advisor or homeroom teacher who welcomes every child individually, and brings everyone closer together. Heads of Grade and Heads of Houses take responsibility for pastoral matters by liaising regularly with these members of staff and with Assistant Principals and Principals to ensure clear channels of communication. This helps support families with student wellbeing.

Several full-time Counsellors work closely with parents and teachers to identify and address the specific needs of every student. Counsellors might meet with a student as a one-off, on a regular basis for a limited time, or periodically, depending on what is best for the student.

When necessary, we also refer students and families to external support specialists.

ACS Early Help

At ACS Cobham we believe that Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) is fundamental in shaping compassionate, confident, and responsible individuals. Our PSHE programme fosters a holistic approach, integrating character development, wellbeing, and life skills, all while promoting our ACS values in every aspect of learning. Together, we nurture confident, empathetic individuals who are prepared to face the future with resilience and a sense of purpose.

We achieve this by integrating PSHE across multiple disciplines, whole cohort assemblies, and our PSHE classes which take place once every two weeks. Below is an outline of our curriculum across each of our grade levels:

Grade 12:

Our PSHE curriculum is delivered via subject lessons and the advisory programme. It ensures that our students have real competence in the skills and strategies they’ve been developing throughout their PSHE education and extends the knowledge and understanding that they need to equip them for independent living and the next stage in their education or career.

Together with our College Counsellors, Pastoral team, Boarding staff and PSHE teachers, students in grade 12 focus on their life beyond ACS to ensure they are ready to thrive wherever the future takes them.

As ACS Cobham develops its ‘Ready to Thrive’ physical wellbeing space, there are many safe spaces and hubs across the school where students can access support from a variety of student services, such as learning support, counselling and peer support via our wellbeing ambassadors.

With the correct support networks in place, students are encouraged to voice their issues and concerns through the appropriate channels which will help identify and address issues before they escalate further.

Surveys are sent out throughout the year to gather student feedback on how we can better support them in our school and wider community. There is a proactive wellbeing programme aimed at helping students develop the skills they need to cope at an age-appropriate level and to equip them for the future world. ACS Cobham senior school students are taught how to make smart choices and decisions for themselves, and they learn how these decisions will impact the community and those around them.

All students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of co- and extracurricular activities, from charitable work and community service projects to sports and the arts, both here in the UK and overseas. Based on the principle of genuine mutual respect, we strive to bring out the best in each student, guiding all to achieve beyond expectation and to enjoy the many friendships and advantages of our truly international learning experience.

We actively involve students in decisions that affect them, benefiting their emotional health and wellbeing by helping them to feel seen, heard, and known in the school and to feel a sense of belonging, which gives them some control over their lives.

Students from across the divisions have been nominated by their teachers and peers to become student wellbeing champions, ensuring that student voices are taken into consideration when addressing health and wellbeing issues and initiatives at school and across ACS as a whole. Student wellbeing ambassadors meet regularly to discuss wellbeing campaigns.

There is a large family at the heart of the school with nearly 200 students living in the boarding houses. For boarders, ACS Cobham is their home away from home and we strive to provide a caring, inclusive, and nurturing environment. Welfare provision to our boarders extends to 24/7 care and our dedicated boarding team plan a plethora of wellbeing initiatives to ensure boarders are safe, healthy and happy. This includes our esteemed Lotus Project which means that every individual student has access to regular one to one conversations with a tutor.

ACS Cobham Senior School is inclusive in terms of race, religion, disability, culture, sexuality, and nationality in both students and staff. Throughout the year students are educated and raise awareness for neurodiversity, pride month, and Show Racism the Red Card. Academic programmes accommodate the needs of students with mild to medium learning needs, along with those with exceptionalities in different areas. Support plans are created for those with physical and mental health issues. ACS Cobham treats all students as individuals to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion is embedded across the school.

ACS Cobham has its own Medical Centre with treatment rooms and a dedicated team of nurses who work with a local GP and a team of first-aid trained staff to offer 24/7 medical support to our students. Our Medical Centre provides students with a safe place to come to receive medical care, advice about physical and mental health issues, and emotional support.

Working with the local medical centre, the Lead Nurse ensures that all boarders are registered with a doctor and will assist students with booking and attending all medical appointments including dental treatment, collecting and safely administering prescriptions, and ensuring that parents are properly involved with the medical care of their child.

ACS Cobham aims to promote good health amongst our students encouraging them to make healthy and positive lifestyle choices.

For more information about our Medical Centre and policies, please read HERE.